Posted on July 5, 2020 by KylieMawdsley
One of the Most POPULAR Off-White Cream Paint Colours: Sherwin Williams Creamy
I always get a giggle when my E-design clients say they love cream, but don’t love yellow. Why is that funny? Well, because a) I’m easily amused when I’ve had two glasses of wine and b) because without yellow – there is no cream!
Creamy behind the mirror and on the wall in the reflection
The basic idea behind cream is that you start with a light yellow paint colour and add a neutral to it, like beige/black/gray. Once you do that, your ‘yellow’ turns into a cream. The more neutral you mix in, the less yellow it gets until you eventually have beige or greige. You’ll also find creams with notes of orange, red or green in them, adding more layers of flexibility.
Now, if you’ve read my colour review on Benjamin Moore Gentle Cream, you’ll have learned about a ‘heavy cream’ – a cream that is not ‘fresh and light’. You might have also explored my review of Benjamin Moore Ballet White, which is an epic blend of cream/beige/gray. Today, we’re going to talk about a DIFFERENT type of cream, one on the lighter, fresher end of things – Sherwin Williams Creamy.
What type of paint colour is Sherwin Williams Creamy? Is it a white, off-white or cream?
Creamy is an off-white cream paint colour. It’s not LIGHT enough to be considered a ‘white’, although some people treat it like one, using it on trims and cabinets (which I don’t recommend).
What’s the LRV of Creamy?
Creamy has an LRV of 81, which in the colour world is PRETTY DARNED HIGH and plants it nicely in the off-white range.
If you aren’t familiar with LRV, you should read this, it’s a game-changer when choosing colours – trust the Ginger. The basic idea is that the higher the LRV number is, the lighter a colour is, the lower the LRV number is, the darker the colour is.
What are the undertones of Creamy?
YELLOW – surprise surprise! Well, actually, yellow is its ‘colour’, but it has a NEUTRAL undertone that calms it down so that it’s not day-glo yellow – it’s cream.
That lovely neutral base helps it stay a bit softer and more neutral compared to a slightly more yellow off-white like Sherwin Williams Dover White (which I find a touch too yellow, personally).
Creamy darkened by 25% Photo JR Photography
Creamy in a south-facing room
South-facing light is a warm, yellow light which will enhance warm colours, bringing out their glorious warmth. So, when you put Creamy in a south-facing room, you can expect the creamy yellow warmth to rise UP and become more noticeable. You may see a similar effect in the afternoon in a west-facing room.
These 2 photos show the ABSOLUTE warmest Creamy will look (south-facing/warm bulbs)
Read more: The Best Paint Colours for a South-Facing Room
Creamy in a north-facing room
I LOVE Creamy in a north-facing space, I believe that’s where it’s at its very best. Northern light is a gray light with a blue cast. This cool natural light calms Creamy right down, so it acts like a soft, subtle, warm – almost not creamy colour. There is still residual warmth in it, but it’s not noticeably ‘yellow’ (you may see a similar effect in an east-facing room).
Shown here with BM Cloud White trim
Read more: The Best Paint Colours for a North-Facing Room
Click HERE or on the above image to see available packages!
Is Creamy a good paint colour for a dark room?
Well, I’ve said it before, and because I like to hear myself talk, I’ll say it again…
‘If you have a dark room and not enough artificial or natural light, there is no paint colour that will save you’ – Moi
You need to improve your interior lighting before you pick a paint colour. Sure, Creamy will ‘help’ and might reflect a bit of the minimal natural or artificial light it’s given, but don’t expect it to work wonders if it’s not GIVEN enough light.
Read more: How to Update a DARK Room
Creamy darkened by 25% Photo JR Photography
Let’s take a quick break to talk about paint samples…
Undoubtedly, you’ll be heading out in the near future to grab paint samples – stop right there! I want you to check out SAMPLIZE. Samplize offers peel and stick paint samples that are more AFFORDABLE, EASIER and more ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY than traditional paint pots. Here are just a FEW reasons why I recommend Samplize to my clients…
- Samples arrive ON YOUR DOORSTEP in 1-3 business days, depending on location
- At $6.99, they’re more affordable than the samples pots/rollers/foam boards that are needing for traditional paint sampling
- If you keep the samples on their white paper, you can move them around the room
Visit the SAMPLIZE website HERE
Is Creamy a good paint colour for a BRIGHT room?
Well, with that killer high LRV, you can totally expect Creamy to wash-out on a well-lit wall – particularly at the height of day with direct sunlight on it. In a ‘generally’ bright room, it will hold itself as a soft warm white/off-white as long as it has some white (trim/cabinets) to contrast with.
Read more: How to Decorate a HIGH-ENERGY BRIGHT Room
Is Creamy a good paint colour for trim and cabinets?
This is where you want to be careful. Whereas Creamy is gorgeous on walls, it’s a tougher sell on the trim. Because it has a slightly stronger creamy warmth, it’s a hard one to partner up with paint colours on the walls compared to more flexible whites and off-whites. Personally…HECK NO!
Read more: How to Pick the Right White
What’s the best white to partner with Creamy for trim or cabinets?
When it comes to Creamy, I lean into either…
- Benjamin Moore Cloud White
- Sherwin Williams Pure White or Alabaster
And while there are others, I WOULDN’T partner Creamy with a cool crisp white like Sherwin Williams Extra White.
Creamy with Cloud White trim
Read more: The 8 Best Benjamin Moore White Paint Colours
Is Creamy a good paint colour for the EXTERIOR of a home?
I wouldn’t do it. Why? Creamy does have a reasonable amount of yellow that can come up CONSIDERABLY more on the exterior, especially on your south or afternoon-west facing side.
If you’re wanting to paint your home a warm soft white or off-white (like above), there are MANY better options out there, some of which you’ll see the links too next! However, if you WANT a soft yellow home…fill ‘yer boots.
BENJAMIN MOORE BALLET WHITE
Read more: Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore Ballet White
SHERWIN WILLIAMS SHOJI WHITE
Read more: Paint Colour Review of Sherwin Williams Shoji White
5 BEST CREAM PAINT COLOURS
Read more: 5 Best Benjamin Moore Cream Paint Colours
NEED HELP?
Check out my E-Design and Online Colour Consulting packages – I’d love to help!
Chat soon,
Read more:
Colour Review: Benjamin Moore Gentle Cream
Colour Review: Benjamin Moore Ballet White
KYLIE M E-DESIGN ONLINE, VIRTUAL PAINT COLOUR CONSULTING SPECIALIZING IN BENJAMIN MOORE AND SHERWIN WILLIAMS BEST PAINT COLOURS
Originally written in 2018, awesomely updated in 2020
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I will add that creamy is a great exterior trim color. It’s not too white and it doesn’t go yellow, like say BM linen white. I personally think it’s got a teensy bit of green in it.
Loved this article! How does Sherwin William’s Antique White compare to Gentle Cream? Is it between Creamy and Gentle Cream? I’ve run across several pictures of Antique White and really like it. Thanks!
My entryway and front hall (which face East) are painted Sherwin Willians “creamy” and it’s so beautiful! I love it! It’s such a pretty color! My trim is Sherwin Williams “Extra White” and the rest of downstairs is painted Revere Pewter. The colors look nice together!
Our builder’s default trim color was Creamy (2009) and it worked with the colors and finishes used then. Now that we have updated our wall colors to brighter/fresher, we will be painting all the trim–mostly because of Creamy’s extreme variability. In some rooms, Creamy is fine and looks fairly “white” and in others it looks dingy or oddly, gray. I think Creamy is a color that has to be really really tested in context and next to any hard finishes. Just my 2 cents 😉
Author
Ooo yes, it is a tricky one! It’s all about exposure and ‘what it’s with’. And it’s a tough one on trim too, I always find it interesting when builders veer away from more standard whites – personally, I think Creamy is best for walls only!
I’ve heard that Creamy is the closest color to the “white” furniture from Pottery Barn. Would you agree with that or is there another color that is a better match?
Author
Hi Mary Ann, I’m just not sure, unfortunately we don’t have a Pottery Barn here!
Can Sherwin Williams “Alabaster” be used for trim with Creamy on the walls? Is there enough contrast using both together?
Author
Yes, it would be soft and subtle, but quite pretty! I might ask them to add 4 ounces of white to Alabaster, which just cleans it up a wee wink (and improves the coverage of it too).
Hi. I have Creamy trim and doors. I am painting the kitchen cabinets and walls. I am leaning toward Albaster. Why do you recommend making it more white? I don’t get a lot of light. Thanks.
Author
Hi Carol! Well, some people find that it’s just a touch too warm/creamy and the 4 ounces can just clean it up a stitch. Whites also don’t always cover well, and the 4 ounces can help with that!
Hi Kylie, I always find your articles fun and interesting, thank you!
I have been on the hunt for a warm off-white paint color for the majority of my main floor. I’m currently testing SW Creamy on few walls but unfortunately, it’s not quite ‘it’, I think I would like it just a smidge less yellow but still warm and maybe a bit more neutral – any suggestions?
I, like you have a weakness for creamy colors, I had Gentle Cream for 15 years and loved it. Finding the right ‘white’ is honestly the most challenging color I have ever picked. When searching the web, I always find similar suggestions for whites – Dove White, Simply White, Decorator’s White etc. It would be nice to see suggestions for some other whites that are maybe not quite as ‘white’. Maybe – Gasp light beige! Ok ok, maybe we could call it sand. Yes, an off-white or sandy white, a white that looks lovely with wood tones, one that would be beautiful in a cottage or farmhouse. One with enough depth to show some contrast next to white trim (mine closely resembles BM Snowfall White) but is still light and fresh. With all the white right now, it would be nice to see more ideas for whitish wall paint colors. Are you pondering anything? If so, please share your wisdom.
Thanks so much, Susan in Alberta
Author
Hi Susan, I wonder if you might like SW White Duck perhaps????!
I’ll have a look at White Duck, thanks so much! White is tough!
I plan on painting my split-level home in SW agreeable gray. what’s your opinion on SW network gray for west facing kitchen, dining room and hallway walls? the blue undertone in it looks nice next to my oak cabinets and trim.( based on the swatch ) , my only concern is if it will fall flat in the hallway.(not much natural light). Glad I found your site and videos. I’ve learned a lot. Thanks!
Hi Kylie,
I just painted my bedroom in Creamy after reading your review of the color. Is your bedroom/ or do you happen to have any photos of bedrooms painted this color? I’d love to see some photos for inspiration for decorating. Thanks for creating such helpful and thorough reviews. You are so helpful!!
Author
HOoray, another Creamy lover! Unfortunately, I don’t have any bedrooms in Creamy, but I would love some (hint hint…)
Hi Kylie! Love your site…I have been on it all evening….thinking of using Creamy in my front hall and west facing living room but not sure which SW white to use as a trim colour. I’ve always used BM Cloud White, but my painter uses SW products.
I want some contrast between the two colours….maybe Pure White? Or Alabaster? We’re looking to sell the house.
Thanks!
Author
Thank you Julie! With Creamy I also like Cloud White, but Alabaster would be a pretty choice!
Ok we’re buying a house that has Creamy on the trim and gold walls. We’re painting the walls and leaving the creamy trim to help the cost. Should I do the walls creamy as well or a light light warmer grey?! Ahhh
Author
Hi Krystal, you can do the walls Creamy as well or a light soft gray, just knowing that Creamy will slightly enhance the gray and the gray will enhance Creamy!
Hi Kylie!
Thank goodness for your willingness to share your expertise! Choosing paint color is not my strength,, so I am reading everything I can find. Our east/west facing home has honey oak baseboards and doors, that is what was “in” when we built our home…sigh. Painting the baseboards and doors are not currently an option….double sigh & roll my eyes, so my paint color expedition has been quite perplexing. We will be painting the entire first floor-two-story entry, dining, living, and kitchen areas. These rooms flow into one another, so we are looking for one fabulous color. These areas are entirely done in Brazilian Cherry hardwood floors.
As I type, painted on my walls are the following color patches: SW Creamy, SW Steamed Milk, SW Patience, SW Moderate White, and SW Natural Linen…our home looks like a fun-house. 🙂 I’m not a fan of walls that scream yellow, but I know there is yellow in some of these colors.
I would greatly appreciate any guidance your could provide! (My husband will thank you too!)
Author
Hi Patty, thank you! You know, when it comes to personal questions, I do refer to my E-design services. I try to give as much helpful, complimentary advice on my blog, and if that doesn’t help, it might be time for me to look at some photos and spend some time with your room! If you’re interested, I’d love to help! https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/online-decorating-design-services/
~Kylie
This was soooo helpful! My husband and I just bought a house and I have been stressing about pairing creamy with white trim. I was afraid that painting the walls creamy and the trim white would look like an oops but your post has convinced me otherwise! We have a living room with gorgeous stained wood trim that I don’t want to paint and creamy looks soo good with it! But the sunroom is right off the living room and has painted trim. What SW white do you recommend for the painted trim throughout the house? I like a good white white trim and may even paint the kitchen cabinets the same white.
THANK YOU!
Author
Hi Medora, take a look at SW Pure White, it’s pretty awesome!
Creamy is a miracle-worker! We just purchased an 80s home and doing a total reno of the small master bath isnt priority as everything is functional…. but SW Creamy just went up after reading this & your article on beige/almond fixtures. Salesman tried to suggest Alabaster but I was armed with your expertise and knew it wouldn’t work. It’s been about 3 weeks and I still cant believe the difference… Creamy brightened the room and tied together ALL the different shades of brown: multitonal brown stone shower tiles, beige marbled floor, dark brown vanity, 80s beige countertop perfectly with the white toilet and tub. Creamy basically neutralized everything, and calmed the room down to just look more intentional and cohesive. It definitely is yellowy, but goes away against the browns, and it’s not dingy. We used SW extra white on the small amount of trim and the door. A sincere thank you for your very specific and insightful guidance via these articles and comment sections!
What do you think of kitchen cabinets painted creamy in a partly west facing kitchen? The rest of the room will also be warm with dark stained wood floors, a dark stained island and dark stained woodwork on windows with a soapstone counter and white quartz counter on island?
I am looking for a white for the exterior of my stucco house. I want a slight off white (not stark white) but not too beige or too yellow. Would creamy work?
Author
Hi Corinne! It really does depend on your roof/stone/brick/window colour and exposure, but generally, I think Creamy is too yellow. Take a look at BM White Dove or SW Alabaster which aren’t off-whites, but are warm whites. In the off-white range, I’d hit up SW White Duck, but once you hit the off-white range you WILL see more colour (beige/greige/cream) 🙂
I first discovered SW Creamy almost 11 years ago when I had the entire interior of my home repainted that color. I love it so much, that when it was time for a refresh, yep, I used Creamy once again. I am a big blue and white fan, and my pieces pop with the Creamy background. Love, love, love it!
Author
I know, right?! It is such a stinkin’ gorgeous colour! I loved it in our last home and was disappointed when it didn’t totally suit our current home – if you love warm colours, this is a winner!
So glad I found your website!! You really have the most comprehensive explanations of paint colors I have seen and you are spot on. I was trying to figure out a color for my 2 story/vaulted ceiling living / dining room, stairway and loft that is mostly north facing with 1 east and 1 west window. I first tried repose grey and just like your post said it could, it came out very blue. I decided to go with your recommendation here of creamy (at 75% because I had 1 walk showing a little too yellow for my liking) and it is perfect!! Not a stark white, not cream but just a slight hint of warmth. I decided on sw extra white for trim. Lastly I need to figure out the ceiling. What did you paint your ceiling in your house? Or what ceiling color do you recommend for a vaulted ceiling to go with creamy?
Author
Hi Lindsay, I just LOVE notes like this! As for white, I chose BM Cloud White – I liked the warmth and how it sat with Creamy. You can also look at SW Alabaster, which is soft and warm, but I might ask them to add 4-6 drops of white to the gallon, just to clean it up a stitch :).
Thank you for sharing great advice and information.
If I use SW-White Duck on my walls, what warm white paint could I use for my kitchen cabinets? Thanks.
Hi Kylie,
Do you think BM White Dove would be a good trim for SW Creamy Walls? Also thinking of using White Dove on my cabinets.
Just curious if the two go together well. Thank you.
Kylie,
What is the dark color on the accent wall?
Author
Hi Kathy, that’s BM Gray 2121-10 🙂
Author
Hi Kathy, that’s BM Steel Wool 🙂
Thank you! I love the dark color pop! I am thinking about Creamy on my LR walls (north facing room with some east facing light) and an accent wall in Dorian Gray.
I have painted all trim in house SW pure white… I love it, not too warm or cool. Lightening my bedroom from some unremembered SW light beige color. Do you like dover or creamy on walls with pure white? (alabaster throws gray tones in my home). Thank you for thoughts!
Author
I am a BIG fan of Creamy, I had it in our last home and loved it!
Thank you Kylie, apologies. …it took a while for question to post the first time so didn’t think it went though. Apologies for the repeat! I love creamy too… just wasn’t sure if enough contrast with SW Pure White trim so thanks for the advise! Love reading your blog!!!!
Hi Kathy, love your color advise. I find that dover white throws a tad more yellow than creamy in the shaded areas of my home, but in areas where flooded with natural light I can hardly tell the two colors apart even with huge swatches painted lol. I love both of them.. so was wondering of the two which do you think plays the best off SW pure white as trim color ?
Hi Kylie,
I appreciate all of your information on Creamy. I has been so helpful, particularly how the colour changes with different exposure. I think I will use Creamy in the main areas of my home and will be using BM Cloud white for the trim. My only question is that the colour of Creamy in the paint fan seems a hint different than that on the paint chip from the SW store. I prefer the colour in the paint fan. How do I make sure this is the colour that I get?
Author
Hi Cheryl! Oh, welcome to the world of paint. Yes, sometimes there can be a slight variation in fan decks for sure as well as paper samples depending on when they were made. Really, it’s about having them dry two coats for you in store, and making sure it blends into the paper chip you have on hand, keeping in mind that sheen can slightly shift how a colour looks too!
I think your tip about two coats is important. I’ll be sure to have them do this. Thank you very much for the advice!
We are painting our Mediterranean home creamy and were wondering which white would work for the trim to subtly contrast?
This colors looks so subtle and soft! Do you think it would pair well with a beige like SW accessible or SW balanced?
Author
Oooo, I might not put it with Accessible Beige, it’s okay with Balanced Beige, but still not great as it has considerably more yellow/colour to it compared to the more muted approach of Balanced Beige :).
I know this article was written 2 years ago and I am surprised at how many comments it got!! Years ago in another home I painted 3 ceilings creamy and they were GORGEOUS. So in a new home I painted my kitchen/dining walls creamy as well as my master bath and I TRULY believe if your lighting is awful, even the most beautiful of colors can look terrible. My kitchen looks fine but a corner of my dining room looks bright yellow. My master bath looks AWFUL. AWFUL. AWFUL. Did I mention the master looks AWFUL. Now I live in a townhome and NONE of my bathrooms have windows so no natural light. My gameplan? Get all the new fixtures in, flooring, towels, LIGHTING, etc…. And then the very LAST thing I will do is pick a paint for that master bath. This will be the THIRD time I have painted it. Now to find the right white for the rest of the house!!!! ARGGGGGGG!! By the way Kylie I am very very critical of blogs. I admit I did NOT like your blog at first even though I e-consulted with you. But I stuck with you and to your credit you grew on me and now I love you!! Bravo!!! Because I don’t have a stick up my bum like I used to!! Hooray!!
Author
Okay Dani, you made me laugh so hard and I’m glad you have removed the stick from your bum – it never feels good ;). And yes, it can be SO hard to shift a colour from one house to another as the lighting can REALLY mess with things – I’m sorry you didn’t love Creamy as much in your new home – thank goodness for wine ;).
The gods have smiled downed on me! SW Creamy is so beautiful in our great room. The dark wood vaulted ceiling & medium tone wood floors look exceptionally wonderful against Creamy. All of our paintings & decor really came to life. The large room faces both East and West. Trim is done in BM Simply White . Large jute rugs really frame everything. Thank you got this post because it gave me the confidence to try something out of the box for me.
I thought I saw a post where a clients kitchen cabinets were done in SW Creamy, but now you’re saying don’t do it. I’ve tried about 15 samples and everything is off, except Creamy. We have dark Baltic brown countertops and the whites are not matching.
Author
I don’t think I have a kitchen with Creamy…I do have some photos of BM White Down, which is similar, but a bit more muted :).
Hi Kylie! A few years ago you recommended Benjamin Moore Muslin for our master bath with travertine tile (I was trying to minimize contrast where the wall meets the tile to not draw attention to the shoddy workmanship in that area) and it is perfect! I need to send you a photo. I recently painted my northeast facing LR Ballet White, also based on you recommending that color on your blog – and I LOVE IT. Seriously love it – it’s perfect. Warm and neutral, very cozy and soothing. I am currently quarantine-painting the majority of my house but am seriously struggling in choosing the right warm off white/cream for our cavernous, open floor plan basement, with 5 small, low to the ground windows and wall to wall carpeting that’s somewhere between greige and tan. If I look at the carpet against a warm peachy off-white – like Timid White – the carpet goes more griege and maybe even a bit dingy looking. With Swiss Coffee and it’s yellow-green undertone,, the carpet reads more orange-beige. I painted our basement home gym in Swiss Coffee at 75% because I wanted something not stark white but also not overly warm, and I like it there – but I want something warmer and cozier for the rest of the basement. I have tried a LOT of BM shades of white/off white and I am still struggling to choose. The current top contenders is Ivory White. I am also considering White Down. I painted one small wall Ivory White, and it’s very soft looking – but possibly too yellow. It’s hard to tell because the rest of the room is painted a bright YELLOW (BM Wildflowers) so probably the wall I painted Ivory white is reflecting quite a bit of yellow from the other walls. Before I proceed with Ivory in the rest of the room – I was hoping you might compare Ivory/Acadia White and White Down with Creamy. I have only used BM colors so far, but am willing to branch out to find the right color… I have decided on Pointing by F&B for our north facing mudroom and hallways, but would rather not use it in the basement – because it just isn’t quite right there with the green-greige tones in the carpet. Help!
Hi
So I was thinking I would use SW Creamy on my trim and crown molding and use SW Shiitake on the walls. Would these pair well?
Author
Hi Shannon, I REALLY feel like Creamy is too yellow/cream for the more muted beige/tan approach of Shittake!
I’m one of those “I like cream but not yellow” people. I have a north-facing condo with a ton of greenery just outside and am on a mission to find the perfect colour. When you darken Creamy, would it look more yellow? I just love the pictures of it, even in the south/warm light, but I have nightmares of darkening it by 25% and having it turn into day-glo yellow. Will paint stores darken the sample size pots? Thanks for all the info!!
Author
Well, in my experience in my OWN home, I did find it a wink more yellow when I darkened it. I wonder if BM White Down might be a bit better for you?
Another satisfied “Creamy” enthusiast! We needed to repaint our “Standish white” walls with something less yellow. The 1930s walls are textured plaster and coved, so we need one color for walls and ceilings. I didn’t want a gray-white because we live in a northern, gray climate, but also not too yellow like Standish white. Creamy is perfection. It’s fresh, modern, and is the perfect neutral backdrop. Thanks for the recommendation.
Author
Wahoooo! Creamy will be SUCH a nice shift for you – more modern, but still soft and warm – good call!
I ordered both Creamy and Aged White from Samplize and am torn between the two. I’m intrigued by your comment about darkening Creamy. How does Creamy darkened by 25% compare to Aged White?
Author
Hi Stephanie! 25% is just a tweak, so it won’t take you near Aged White. I will say that of the two I NATURALLY gravitate towards Creamy as it’s a bit cleaner looking while still being soft, whereas I’m usually nervous with Aged White because it looks so…aged. HOWEVER, it’s about what best suits your home! I had Creamy regular strength and 25% in a previous home and LOVED it!